Active sextortion demand for money or more images in Brazil
Someone is demanding payment, additional images, or compliance with other terms under threat of distributing intimate content. This is a federal crime under 18 USC 2261A whether the underlying images are authentic or AI generated.
BR
jurisdiction
Lei
primary statute
48 hr
TAKE IT DOWN Act window
Regulator power
enforcement route
If you are in immediate danger
If you are currently being threatened: do not pay and do not delete the messages. Preserve all communications, then report to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov immediately. The FBI maintains specialized sextortion case units with significant success against organized rings.
Tl;dr
In Brazil, this conduct is prosecuted under Lei nº 13.718/2018 plus Marco Civil article 21. The civil erasure route runs through LGPD (Lei nº 13.709/2018) right to deletion under article 18 and ANPD. Where the host platform is subject to US jurisdiction, the TAKE IT DOWN Act adds a 48 hour platform removal obligation in parallel.
Why this happens
Organized sextortion rings run high volume operations targeting tens of thousands of victims a year. The perpetrator is rarely the only person involved and the operation is rarely a single jurisdiction.
Payment confirms the victim's willingness to pay and produces escalating demands in over 80 percent of documented cases. The threat does not stop after payment.
Legal framework in Brazil
Lei nº 13.718/2018 (crimes against sexual dignity) inserting article 218-C into the Código Penal, plus Marco Civil da Internet (Lei nº 12.965/2014) article 21. From 1 to 5 years imprisonment under article 218-C. Aggravated where committed by a current or former intimate partner.
Brazil pairs the 2018 criminal reform with the unique Marco Civil article 21, which makes platforms directly liable in damages for failure to remove non consensual intimate content following notification. This is one of the few legal frameworks in the world to impose direct platform damages liability for inaction.
Evidence to preserve
- Every message from the perpetrator, with timestamps and account handles preserved
- Any payment requests including cryptocurrency wallet addresses, bank details, or gift card requests
- The perpetrator's social media account, profile photo, and stated identity
- If you have already paid, the transaction records and recipient details
Do not: Do not pay the perpetrator. Payment escalates demands in over 80 percent of cases and does not produce content removal.
Five step removal process
-
1
Preserve all evidence first
Every message from the perpetrator, with timestamps and account handles preserved. Any payment requests including cryptocurrency wallet addresses, bank details, or gift card requests.
-
2
File the Lei nº 13.718/2018 plus Marco Civil article 21 criminal complaint
Report to local police or the national cybercrime unit. SaferNet Brasil can assist.
-
3
Submit an erasure request under LGPD (Lei nº 13.709/2018) right to deletion under article 18
Each major platform has a designated data protection contact. The request must cite the legal basis and identify the URLs. The platform has 30 days to respond. ANPD accepts complaints for non compliance.
-
4
Run a biometric scan to find every additional copy
Content posted to one platform is rarely confined to one platform. ScanErase identifies every current hosting location in a single scan, including mirror copies and AI generated variants.
-
5
File TAKE IT DOWN Act notices for covered platforms
Use your scan report to file the federal 48 hour notice yourself, in parallel with your domestic rights. The two regimes are cumulative, not exclusive.
Statutory citations to include in your complaint
- Lei nº 13.718/2018 (crimes against sexual dignity) inserting article 218-C into the Código Penal, plus Marco Civil da Internet (Lei nº 12.965/2014) article 21
- LGPD (Lei nº 13.709/2018) right to deletion under article 18
- US TAKE IT DOWN Act for any covered platform
- 47 USC 223a TAKE IT DOWN Act if any content has been distributed
- State extortion statutes in all 50 states with enhanced penalties for sexual extortion
Frequently asked questions
Is sextortion a crime in Brazil?
Yes. Lei nº 13.718/2018 (crimes against sexual dignity) inserting article 218-C into the Código Penal, plus Marco Civil da Internet (Lei nº 12.965/2014) article 21 criminalises this conduct. From 1 to 5 years imprisonment under article 218-C. Aggravated where committed by a current or former intimate partner.
What evidence should a Brazil victim of sextortion preserve?
Every message from the perpetrator, with timestamps and account handles preserved. Any payment requests including cryptocurrency wallet addresses, bank details, or gift card requests. The perpetrator's social media account, profile photo, and stated identity. If you have already paid, the transaction records and recipient details.
Does LGPD (Lei nº 13.709/2018) right to deletion under article 18 apply to this scenario?
Yes. LGPD (Lei nº 13.709/2018) right to deletion under article 18 gives the victim a direct erasure right against any platform processing the imagery. ANPD enforces non compliance.
What support is available in Brazil for sextortion?
SaferNet Brasil provides direct support to victims and can assist with both the criminal complaint and the platform removal process. Contact at https://new.safernet.org.br.
Can a Brazil victim also file a US TAKE IT DOWN Act notice?
Yes when the hosting platform is subject to US jurisdiction. The 48 hour federal removal obligation runs in parallel with rights under Lei nº 13.718/2018 plus Marco Civil article 21 and LGPD (Lei nº 13.709/2018) right to deletion under article 18.
Remove every copy now
One scan. Coordinated removal under Lei nº 13.718/2018 plus Marco Civil article 21, LGPD (Lei nº 13.709/2018) right to deletion under article 18, and the TAKE IT DOWN Act.
Start a private scan